Is Kathmandu’s air safe to breathe?

It has now become a well established fact that residents of Kathmandu valley breathe extremely unhealthy air every day, and what’s even more alarming is the fact that it has already jeopardized the health of many.

Kathmandu’s air quality index (AQI), which is an indicator that tells how clean or polluted the air in the city is, has been alternating between unhealthy for sensitive groups (people with respiratory ailments) and unhealthy for all people since a very long time. The air pollutants present in Kathmandu’s air is multiple times higher than what WHO categorizes as healthy.

Among many contributing factors such as swift urbanization and growing number of vehicles in operation everyday in the city, Kathmandu has a unique geographical position which aids in the increase of air pollution. The 2018 study, ‘ Threat of Ambient Air Pollution in Kathmandu’ published in the journal of environmental and public health has shown the relation of Kathmandu’s air problem and its relation with its topographic structure. The valley is surrounded by high mountains ranging from 2000 to 2800 metres from sea level, which makes Kathmandu a bowl shaped topographic structure restricting the movement of wind leading to the retention of pollutants in the air itself.

The study states that even though air pollution has been a priority of the National health policy of Nepal, implementation is significantly lacking. It hints towards political instability in Nepal, as the reason why public health and economic goals are failing to be achieved in the country. “Developed countries have now realized the importance of controlling air pollution levels, and are making efforts to invest in a healthier future. Unfortunately it is not yet the case in Nepal; the government needs to keep environmental concerns in its top priority list as well,” concludes pulmonologist Niraj Bam of the Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu.